The protected areas cover 60 million hectares (148.15 million acres) divided into 95 preserves, and 20 other areas still in the process of being created are also included in the project, the environment minister said.

The Amazon Protected Areas Program was created in 2002 by the government and has been supported by numerous international organizations, including the World Bank.

The new phase of the program seeks the “consolidation” of the protected areas, where studies will be conducted to improve conservation of plants and animals, Teixeira said.